About this Event
On Friday, October 3rd, 6:00–7:30 PM, join us for Session 1: Andean Philosophy: De-indigenization & Re-indigenization. The first session deals with the effects colonization has had on populations, with a focus on the concepts of being separated from one’s Indigenous culture to the phenomenon of returning or rediscovering such history. This will serve as the foundation for why learning Andean philosophy is essential to decolonial practice. These concepts are an undercurrent of the works found in the exhibition and will be expanded upon as examples.
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“Minga & Memory” is a free, public, educational program focused on Andean philosophy, visual language, and immigrant movement-building. Five 90-minute workshops facilitated by PES Artist in Residence Layqa Nuna Yawar and collaborators will coincide with the exhibition “La Voz del Anonimato / The Voice of Anonimity”. As a starting point for conversations around Andean enduring cultural concepts, they explore the current realities of diasporic existence under an oppressive, anti-immigrant government.
These workshops are intended for anyone interested in Andean migration, history, philosophy, art, culture, or language—and particularly for Newark’s growing community of Ecuadorian and Andean immigrants of all ages.
Layqa Explains: “These workshops are a natural extension of my practice. They combine the public and collaborative nature of muralism with the inquiry and research of studio painting. My goal is to amplify the narratives of people who have been historically oppressed and silenced, people who are currently being kidnapped and expatriated, people who look like me, who come from the lands I come from, people who share my ancestral legacy. We have been separated by time, geography, and colonialism, and I aim to create a space where we can find each other in the now, while thinking and talking about our shared past. This work is rooted in shared liberation and welcomes all.”
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Layqa Nuna Yawar
Layqa Nuna Yawar is an Ecuadorian-born and Newark-based muralist, painter, and multidisciplinary artist known for his large-scale public artworks that combine portraiture, symbolism, and storytelling, creating powerful visual narratives that explore issues of displacement, migration, and social equity. Made collaboratively on site, these social sculptures celebrate immigration, cultural heritage, and social justice struggles. His work aims to amplify underrepresented voices and challenge dominant historical narratives.
Arnold Arnez
Arnold Arnez will lead educational sessions within the program. Arnold is a Quechua-Aymara educator in indigenous philosophy and history, with a deep understanding of ancestral knowledge systems and decolonial frameworks. His focuses are on Andean philosophy and a hemispheric conception of North-Latin American indigeneity. His teachings provide crucial cultural and historical context, grounding the program in lived indigenous experience and cosmology.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Ironside Newark, 110 Edison Place, Newark, United States
USD 0.00
